by Nicole Jordan
I’ve never truly understood the fascination some people have with fire. Personally, I’ve always been a little weary around the flame of a candle or a box matches. Even turning on the stove makes me a little nervous, despite the fact that I do it everyday. However, some people are just fascinated by it and could fool around with lighters and matches as if the possibility of burning down their house doesn’t exist. It wasn’t until I discovered the French artist, Steven Spazuk, that I began to understood the attention that a single flame commands.
For roughly the past fourteen years, Spazuk has crafted a technique that allows him to “paint” with fire. Using the residual soot of a canvas that has come into contact with a flame, he renders haunting yet beautiful images of animals and people. His technique allows him to portray an incredible sense of depth and texture and enhance the traditional mediums, such as paint, that artists commonly use. My favorites are the mosaic portraits that really capture the nuances that make up the personalities of the individuals portrayed.
For roughly the past fourteen years, Spazuk has crafted a technique that allows him to “paint” with fire. Using the residual soot of a canvas that has come into contact with a flame, he renders haunting yet beautiful images of animals and people. His technique allows him to portray an incredible sense of depth and texture and enhance the traditional mediums, such as paint, that artists commonly use. My favorites are the mosaic portraits that really capture the nuances that make up the personalities of the individuals portrayed.